ST. LOUIS COUNTRY BLUES — Complete Recorded Works 1929-1937 of HENRY SPAULDING, HENRY TOWNSEND, JAYDEE SHORT | DOCD-5147 (1993) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Three superior country blues vocalists-guitarists have all of their recordings as leaders reissued on this CD, with the exception of a few undiscovered titles and Henry Townsend's postwar sessions. Nothing much is known about Henry Spaulding, who just cut two titles in 1929, but his solo performances are excellent and haunting. Jaydee Short led three solo sessions during 1930-1933 (one under the pseudonym of Joe Stone) and is another mystery figure. Townsend, who is heard on 15 performances from 1929-1937 (with support here and there by guitarists Clifford Gibson and Robert Lee McCoy, Sonny Boy Williamson on harmonica, and pianist Roosevelt Sykes), is a legendary blues pioneer. Although all three of the leaders were based in St. Louis, their recordings were actually made in Chicago, Louisville, Aurora (Illinois), Grafton (Wisconsin), and New York City. Vintage blues collectors will definitely want this set. Scott Yanow

The authentic sounds of St. Louis country blues . Features  rare recordings from Henry Spaulding, Jaydee Short (a.k.a. Joe Stone), and blues pioneer Henry Townsend.   Henry Spaulding’s haunting solo performances, Jaydee Short’s remarkable talent, and Henry Townsend’s legendary status highlight the diverse offerings of this album. Recorded in various locations including Chicago, Louisville, and New York City. These tracks showcase the essence of blues music during this era. DOCD-5147
Tracklist :
1    Henry Spaulding–    Cairo Blues 2:40
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Spaulding
2    Henry Spaulding–    Biddle Street Blues 2:44
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Spaulding
3    Henry Townsend–    Henry's Worry Blues 3:05
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Townsend
4    Henry Townsend–    Mistreated Blues 2:57
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Townsend
5    Henry Townsend–    Long Ago Blues 2:54
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Townsend
6    Henry Townsend–    Poor Man Blues 2:58
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Townsend
7    Henry Townsend (as Jesse Townsend)–    No Home Blues 2:49
Guitar [Prob./Or] – Clifford Gibson
Vocals, Guitar [Poss./Or] – Henry Townsend
8    Henry Townsend (as Jesse Townsend)–    Take A Chance 3:10
Guitar [Prob./Or] – Clifford Gibson
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
Vocals, Guitar [Poss./Or] – Henry Townsend
9    Henry Townsend (as Henry Thomas)–    She's Got What I Want
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
Vocals – Henry Townsend
10    Henry Townsend (as Henry Thomas)–    My Sweet Candy 2:48
Piano – Roosevelt Sykes
Vocals – Henry Townsend
11    Henry Townsend (as Henry Thomas)–    Sick With The Blues 2:50
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Townsend
12    Henry Townsend–    Don't Love That Woman 3:15
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Townsend
13    Henry Townsend–    She's Got A Mean Disposition 3:16
Vocals, Guitar – Henry Townsend
14    Henry Townsend–    Lose Your Man 3:26
Guitar – Robert Lee McCoy
Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Vocals, Guitar [Miscredited] – Henry Townsend
15    Henry Townsend–    All I've Got's Gone 3:23
Guitar – Robert Lee McCoy
Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Vocals, Guitar [Miscredited] – Henry Townsend
16    Henry Townsend–    A Ramblin' Mind 2:53
Guitar – Robert Lee McCoy
Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Vocals, Guitar [Miscredited] – Henry Townsend
17    Henry Townsend–    Now I Stay Away 2:45
Guitar – Robert Lee McCoy
Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson
Vocals, Guitar [Miscredited] – Henry Townsend
18    Jaydee Short–    Telephone Arguin' Blues 3:11
Vocals, Guitar – Jaydee Short
19    Jaydee Short–    Lonesome Swamp Rattlesnake 2:47
Vocals, Guitar – Jaydee Short
20    Jaydee Short (as Jelly Jaw Short)–    Snake Doctor Blues 3:20
Vocals, Guitar – Jaydee Short
21    Jaydee Short (as Jelly Jaw Short)–    Barefoot Blues 2:55
Vocals, Guitar – Jaydee Short
22    Jaydee Short (as Jelly Jaw Short)–    Grand Daddy Blues 3:11
Vocals, Guitar – Jaydee Short
23    Joe Stone–    It's Hard Time 3:05
Vocals, Guitar – Joe Stone
24    Joe Stone–    Back Door Blues 2:57
Vocals, Guitar – Joe Stone 

ED BELL (Barefoot Bill • Sluefoot Joe) — Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order 1927-1930 | DOCD-5090 (1992) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Document's series of "complete recorded works in chronological order" has resulted not only in all of the performances being reissued of major prewar blues performers, but the work of quite a few minor personalities too. Ed Bell, a singer/guitarist from Atlanta, lived until 1966 but made all of his recordings during 1927 and 1929-1930. One of his best sessions was cut one day in September 1927, a solo date resulting in four memorable lowdown blues. Otherwise, Bell is heard as "Sluefoot Joe," "Barefoot Bill From Alabama," and on two vocal-guitar duets with Pillie Bolling. In addition, this CD has Bolling's only other recordings, two solo numbers from 1930. A collector's item of its kind, this disc will be enjoyed by fans of early country blues. Scott Yanow

Abridged from this album’s original booklet notes. Ed Bell was born in May 1905, in Fort Deposit, Alabama, on the Davis Plantation. He was the third of seven children. In the early 1920’s, Bell did a little farming and a lot of playing and travelling, honing his technique with a small group of seven to ten friends and acquaintances, of which only he and Pillie Bolling were recorded. Exactly how Bell came to be recorded is uncertain, but he made his first session for Paramount in 1927, which resulted in four issued titles, some of the finest country blues ever recorded. His next session was for QRS in 1929, where he was teamed with Clifford Gibson, and although there is no direct evidence, it is generally accepted now that “Sluefoot Joe” is Ed Bell. A carefully reasoned account for these judgments is given in Don Kent’s inside notes to Mamlish S-3811, which also presents the direct evidence that Barefoot Bill (the name used for the Nov. 1929 and April 1930 sessions) is also Ed Bell. Columbia 14481 was a relative hit, with a pressing of over 5000, but the number of copies Columbia pressed diminished regularly to 1500, then 790, and finally 650 copies pressed for his last issue, Co 14595. The writing was clearly on the wall for the music business, but during the 1920’s he had a classic blues career, becoming a distinctive entertainer who travelled to such place as Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Toledo, and Youngstown to play, and Atlanta, Chicago and New York to record. Already during this first half of his life he had moved far from his origins at the plantation and the traditional farmwork associated with it, almost exclusively on the basis of his musical talent. Bell’s latest career has not as yet been as rigorously documented as has his musical one. Bell’s half-sister or perhaps baby sister, Pauline Porterfield, was interviewed by a friend of mine in Pittsburgh. When asked, she stated that Ed “got tired of the blues” and began a career in the Baptist Church. It is in his career as a reverend and circuit-rider that Bell is remembered among the younger citizenry of Butler County. Pauline was quite proud of him eventually becoming Moderator of the Southern District, a high and respected church office. He apparently died in 1966, but perhaps the records of the Baptist Church will prove fruitful to future researchers trying to find the “official” Ed Bell. At least we have the essence of Ed Bell the musician. DOCD-5090

Tracklist:
1 –Ed Bell Mamlish Blues 2:33
2 –Ed Bell Hambone Blues 2:45
3 –Ed Bell Mean Conductor Blues 2:51
4 –Ed Bell Frisco Whistle Blues 2:45
5 –Sluefoot Joe Shouting Baby Blues 2:57
Guitar – Clifford Gibson
6 –Sluefoot Joe She's A Fool 2:59
7 –Sluefoot Joe Tooten' Out Blues 3:10
Piano [Probably] – Clifford Gibson
8 –Sluefoot Joe Grab It And Run 2:08
Guitar – Clifford Gibson
9 –Sluefoot Joe Leaving Train Blues 2:44
Guitar – Clifford Gibson
10 –Sluefoot Joe House Top Blues 2:55
Guitar – Clifford Gibson
11 –Sluefoot Joe Rocky Road Moan 2:26
Guitar – Clifford Gibson
12 –Sluefoot Joe Rosca Mama Blues 3:10
Guitar – Clifford Gibson
13 –Barefoot Bill From Alabama My Crime Blues 2:46
14 –Barefoot Bill From Alabama Snigglin' Blues 2:36
15 –Barefoot Bill From Alabama Big Rock Jail 2:44
16 –Barefoot Bill From Alabama From Now On 3:07
17 –Pillie Bolling And Barefoot Bill I Don't Like That 3:00
18 –Pillie Bolling And Barefoot Bill She's Got A Nice Line 3:06
19 –Barefoot Bill Squabblin' Blues 3:00
20 –Barefoot Bill Barefoot Bill's Hard Luck Blues 2:58
21 –Barefoot Bill One More Time 2:58
22 –Barefoot Bill Bad Boy 3:01
23 –Ed Bell Carry It Right Back Home 2:47
24 –Ed Bell She's A Fool Gal 3:05
25 –Pillie Bolling Brown Skin Woman 3:19
26 –Pillie Bolling Shake Me Like A Dog 3:00
Credits:
Guitar – Barefoot Bill (tracks: 23, 24), Sluefoot Joe (tracks: 6, 7)
Vocals – Ed Bell (tracks: 23, 24), Sluefoot Joe (tracks: 5 to 12)
Vocals, Guitar – Barefoot Bill From Alabama (tracks: 13 to 16), Barefoot Bill (tracks: 17 to 22), Ed Bell (tracks: 1 to 4), Pillie Bolling (tracks: 17, 18, 25, 26)